Chapter 18

Aaliyah's hand trembled violently, and her phone almost fell to the ground. Her body swayed suddenly, and she almost fell down. The words of her assistant echoed in her mind, like a sharp knife stabbing her heart over and over again. “How is that possible? How is that possible?!” Her throat felt sweet, and a mouthful of blood spurted out, staining the glass window in front of her red. Her body swayed, the world spun before her eyes, and she collapsed heavily onto the ground. When Aaliyah awoke, she was surrounded by blinding white light. The pungent smell of disinfectant filled the air, and the rhythmic ticking of medical equipment echoed in her ears. Her head felt heavy, her chest felt as though it were crushed by a boulder, and breathing became difficult. The assistant sat by the bed, her eyes red-rimmed, clutching a document tightly in her hand. Upon seeing her awake, she hurried forward, her voice hoarse: “Miss Bailey, you're finally awake.” Aaliyah's vision was blurry; she straine